308 tlEPOETS OF MEETINGS. 



ENTOMOLOOICAL SECTION. 



Jan. 14th, 1874. At this Meeting a paper was read by- 

 Mr. Grigg on the life history of Epunda nigra. Eggs of this 

 species was obtained from a female captured on ivy bloom in 

 October, 1871, no less than eight hundred being deposited. The 

 eggs are of a light straw color, of a flattened rounded form, 

 finely fluted from the centre of the top to the base. The eggs 

 become blackened a few days before hatching, the young larva 

 appearing towards the end of February, and were full fed in 

 June. When fully grown the larva are about 1 J inch in length. 

 They were found to feed freely on chickweed, spinach, and dock. 

 Before turning to chrysalis a brittle earthen cocoon is formed just 

 under the surface of the ground. The first moth appeared on 

 October 27th, 1872. Mr. Griggs's paper was illustrated by 

 di'awings of several varieties of the larva. 



Excursions were taken during the summer to Brean Down, 

 near Weston-super-Mare, to Brockley, and to Nailsea Marsh. 



At the December Meeting Mr. Grigg read some notes " On the 

 occurrence of Platypteryx sicula,^^ a species peculiar to Bristol, as 

 far as Great Britain is concerned. Some forty years ago a 

 single specimen was taken by Mr. Metford, and this remained 

 for about twenty-five years as the only British example 

 of the species. Fifteen years ago several specimens occurred, 

 and again the species disappeared until 1874, when fire examples 

 were taken. The species has been constantly looked for, and its 

 fitful appearance is very singular. In searching for this species 



